As you start to plan your baby’s first birthday celebration, consider adding a cake smash session to your list of “must-haves.” It is the cutest, messiest, and funniest way to document this momentous occasion! As a Boston cake smash photographer, I like to keep things simple. I shoot on a white background and focus on just your baby and the cake. While some parents prefer to decorate using a specific “theme,” I’ve found that babies are far less distracted and overwhelmed when there’s just a cake in front of them. Plus, the images are timeless and can be displayed anywhere.
When considering the best kind of cake to use, I always recommend yellow or white cake with minimal frosting. This little guy loves his fruit, so his mom opted for a strawberry shortcake which he absolutely LOVED! As you can tell by the images captured, the cake didn’t last very long once he really started to dig in (and the strawberries were the first thing to go!)
Another thing to consider is how your baby may react to cake and frosting if they’ve never experienced it before. A fellow photographer friend shared this great tip with me: let baby practice beforehand! They don’t need to have a whole cake to practice – even a small cupcake will do. What you want to avoid is waiting until the day of the session to introduce cake to your baby for the first time. In most instances, it can result in tears and not the fun, playful images you’re hoping to capture.
When should you plan your baby’s first birthday session? It all depends on how you want to use your images. If the goal is to have photos on display at your baby’s first birthday party, I recommend scheduling at least a month in advance of their party. If timing doesn’t matter, it’s fine to wait until closer to their actual birthday and/or party date.
Boston Cake Smash Photographer
Julie Freitas is a baby photographer located north of Boston in Beverly, MA. She photographs babies up to 1 year of age, including cake smash sessions to celebrate your baby’s first birthday.
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